Company Overview:
As the largest MTO manufacturer of sprockets in North America, we at Weller, pride ourselves on our ability to tackle the unique challenges our customers bring to us that other shops can’t handle. DROP Sprockets has built a reputation for durability, precision, reliability, and speed to market, serving a variety of industries. As part of Weller Metalworks, we continue to integrate our expertise with the broader capabilities of the platform delivering outstanding customer service through the many value streams we provide. Operating under a unified leadership team, we are committed to our core values while benefiting from streamlined governance and a cohesive strategic direction, ensuring continued innovation and growth.
DROP Sprockets is a leading manufacturer of high-quality sprockets for a variety of industries, including forestry, mining, and agriculture. Our products are known for their durability, precision, and reliability, and we are committed to delivering outstanding customer service to our clients. We are located in the beautiful West Kootenay's region of British Columbia, known for its stunning natural scenery and vibrant community spirit. We've worked hard to make DROP a place that we love to be! Our hiring criteria is based on Aptitude, Attitude, and Skills. Take your career to the next level at one of the metal part manufacturing industry’s leading global partners.
Job Description:
We are looking for an Applications & Mechanical Design Technologist to join our growing team and support our fast-paced, high-volume, made-to-order Sprocket Manufacturer in the beautiful South Slocan, BC. We offer a relaxed human-centric and inclusive environment where our team members are encouraged to be themselves and learn in a safe atmosphere.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Technical Review & Work Definition
- Lead the technical review of incoming requests, drawings, and specifications provided by Sales to ensure completeness and clarity.
- Identify and resolve technical gaps, inconsistencies, and risks prior to order acceptance.
- Support Sales team with product feasibility assessments and costing data.
- Define and document key technical requirements, including materials, tolerances, and functional expectations.
- Ensure all requirements are aligned with internal manufacturing capabilities, standards, and constraints.
2. Design Development & Engineering Control
- Develop and refine mechanical designs, layouts, and assemblies that meet functional and application requirements.
- Produce accurate 2D drawings and 3D models with appropriate tolerances, materials, and specifications.
- Apply sound engineering judgment to balance manufacturability, quality, and cost considerations.
- Maintain ownership of design integrity throughout the pre-production phase.
- Ensure all designs comply with internal standards, best practices, and revision control requirements.
3. Order Development & Production Readiness
- Translate approved work into complete, production-ready documentation, including drawings, BOMs, routings, and specifications.
- Ensure all technical data is accurately structured and maintained within the ERP system (Odoo).
- Validate orders prior to release, confirming alignment with technical scope and defined requirements.
- Ensure all required documentation is complete, accurate, and accessible to production and procurement teams.
4. Manufacturing Alignment & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Collaborate with Production, Procurement, and Engineering to ensure designs align with available processes, tooling, and materials.
- Provide technical guidance to support efficient manufacturing and resolve pre-production issues.
- Identify and communicate potential production risks, constraints, or improvements early in the process.
- Act as the technical liaison between departments to ensure alignment from order intake through production readiness.
- Support effective handoff of work to production teams through clear and complete documentation.
5. Change Management & Continuous Improvement
- Manage technical changes and revisions throughout the order lifecycle, ensuring traceability and proper documentation.
- Evaluate the impact of design or requirement changes on cost, lead time, and manufacturability.
- Communicate changes clearly to all affected stakeholders prior to implementation.
- Identify recurring issues in design, order intake, or manufacturability and drive corrective improvements.
Required Knowledge & Experience:
- Education: Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Design, or a related field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in mechanical design, manufacturing, or pre-production engineering; experience in industrial or fabrication environments is preferred.
- Certifications: Relevant technical certifications in design, engineering, or manufacturing are considered an asset.
- Software: Proficient in SolidWorks and AutoCAD for 2D/3D design; strong working knowledge of ERP systems (Odoo preferred) and MS Office.
- Technical: Solid understanding of mechanical design principles and manufacturing processes, including machining, fabrication, materials, and assembly methods.
- Business Insight: Demonstrated ability to interpret technical requirements within a business context, supporting efficient production, cost awareness, and cross-functional coordination.
The Perks:
- Competitive wage, benefit package, and long-term employment.
- Team activities including the odd adventure experience.
- A great opportunity to have a long-term career in the West Kootenays with a progressive and growing manufacturing company with roots in the area.
